ARG! Dancing with the Instructor drives me nuts!

[peachexploration]

Okay, so you're in class and loving it. Each move thrown out, you get it on the first try. Your styling is good, you're timing is great, the music is fantastic and then....

Your turn to dance with the instructor. :shock: :shock: :shock:

Your heart drops to your feet, your feet become like led, your head starts to swim, you can't hear the music, you step on the instructor's feet and he looks and you and asks, "What happened? You had this five minutes ago!" :? :?

ARRRGGGG!!! :headwall: Dancing with the instructor makes me extremely nervous to no end. I hate dancing with the instructor! I just want to run and hide. :lol: :lol: :lol:

[pr]

Okay, so you're in class and loving it. Each move thrown out, you get it on the first try. Your styling is good, you're timing is great, the music is fantastic and then....

Your turn to dance with the instructor. :shock: :shock: :shock:

Your heart drops to your feet, your feet become like led, your head starts to swim, you can't hear the music, you step on the instructor's feet and he looks and you and asks, "What happened? You had this five minutes ago!" :? :?

ARRRGGGG!!! :headwall: Dancing with the instructor makes me extremely nervous to no end. I hate dancing with the instructor! I just want to run and hide. :lol: :lol: :lol:
Is he that handsome? :roll:

[peachexploration]

:shock: To be honest, I haven't noticed. :lol: :lol: He's just a great dancer, and I'm no where near his status. :)

[pr]

:shock: To be honest, I haven't noticed. :lol: :lol: He's just a great dancer, and I'm no where near his status. :)
*Giggle* Just like I thought then! I just felt I had to ask the previous question! ;) :lol:

[hopelessly_addicted]

I can so relate to this Peache! This happens especially when you and the instuctor are doing the moves that he/she just taught!! I got over having that flutter of dancing with my teacher only after I danced with him socially quite a few times...

I've just discovered today that this guy that I danced with few weeks ago who gave me some beautiful dances was a visiting instructor from NY.. so, I guess this only happens when you know in advance how good a dancer the instructor is!

Actually, I remember now that the second time around that this guy asked me to dance, I was pretty bad, having watched him dance with many other local advanced followers by that stage :lol:

[pr]

Stop thinking and start to do the dancing! :D

[peachexploration]

...I've just discovered today that this guy that I danced with few weeks ago who gave me some beautiful dances was a visiting instructor from NY.. so, I guess this only happens when you know in advance how good a dancer the instructor is! ......That's exactly what I'm talking about, HA. Eventually, this will subside. But dancing with your instructor is quite different than dancing with others who are not your instructor. Especially, if your instructor is theone measuring and evaluating your progress. :) I've had other instructors who didnt make me nervous at all but this one does because I know how good he is dancer and instructor wise. :D

[hopelessly_addicted]

Stop thinking and start to do the dancing! :D

Yeah.. as hard as this sounds, it is the solution to the problem really!

If I don't think of what I'm doing, I do better when being led. I hate when leads warn me before leading into something they think to be tricky. Follower's job is to follow. If you know basically what needs to be done, and given a good lead, that's where your brain stops working and your body starts moving 8)

I guess you know that you aren't the only one who experiences this. I'm sure time will cure the problem :) hehe poor guy, your instructor, if all his students are like you and I :lol:

[peachexploration]

..... I'm sure time will cure the problem :)

I know it will. ;) Just venting my frustration and letting others know as well that it is perfectly normal to feel this way. :)

[pr]

hopelessly_addicted we have the same number of posts for the moment! :D (Well not after I have posted this...)

[hopelessly_addicted]

hopelessly_addicted we have the same number of posts for the moment! :D (Well not after I have posted this...)

Hi pr :) I'm quite oblivious with point numbers... now we have the same number of posts :P

[peachexploration]

Okay you two, no hijacking! Back on topic. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[pr]

Okay you two, no hijacking! Back on topic. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
To Peach with love :tongue:
http://www.online-thecatsmeow.com/images/Emoticons/icon_whisper.gifHopelessly addicted: now I'm one post ahead! ;)

[peachexploration]

:eyebrow:

Umm, there are always the Sequential Word Game threads 'ya know.

Back on topic:
Okay, so you're in class and loving it. Each move thrown out, you get it on the first try. Your styling is good, you're timing is great, the music is fantastic and then....

Your turn to dance with the instructor. :shock: :shock: :shock:

Your heart drops to your feet, your feet become like led, your head starts to swim, you can't hear the music, you step on the instructor's feet and he looks and you and asks, "What happened? You had this five minutes ago!" :? :?

ARRRGGGG!!! :headwall: Dancing with the instructor makes me extremely nervous to no end. I hate dancing with the instructor! I just want to run and hide. :lol: :lol: :lol:

[hopelessly_addicted]

Okay you two, no hijacking! Back on topic. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
To Peach with love :tongue:
http://www.online-thecatsmeow.com/images/Emoticons/icon_whisper.gifHopelessly addicted: now I'm one post ahead! ;)

hehe that emoticon's so cute! now is this how people increase their posting number? ;) :lol:

sorry peache, but that whispering emoticon required my reply..

Back to topic:
How about try thinking of dancing with your instructor (who's a great dancer!) as a privilage rather than a test. You gotta fight to dance with him in social setting (well at least in my scene where it's follow-heavy), so why not just enjoy this golden opportunity....

Also, I do not like instructors who would not dance with their students on the rotation basis... i can't receive feedback from them as much and i may not know how it is to be led correctly...

[lucretia]

This always happens to me AND my instructor when we dance together. We never succede the pattern we where supposed to do.

Sometimes he starts up another pattern. Sometimes I fail. It happens so often now that we always start to giggle..in advance. We know we will fail dancing with each other :lol:

(There is no crush effect at all...it is just a funny and relaxed athmosphere!)

/luc

[peachexploration]

.....Sometimes he starts up another pattern. Sometimes I fail. It happens so often now that we always start to giggle..in advance. We know we will fail dancing with each other :lol: .....

Yeah, my instructor started acting really goofy yesterday and it eased the tension. He started doing some goofy spaghetti leg dance and the whole class just lost it! :lol: It really helps to giggle in order to released some of that nervousness. :)

[pr]

Sorry for being off topic, but now I'm back on topic again... :)
I can also relate to this... It doesn't need to be a teacher, just someone that you know is really good and that you don't want to make bored. The problem is that you start thinking too much (as I mentioned before). This thinking kind of totally blocks your nerve signals that were supposed to go to your legs.

[peachexploration]

Much better today. I wasn't nervous at all. It was a much smaller class today but we got alot done. My teacher even tried a few new moves on the unsuspecting Peach! :shock: :D I got through them and surprised myself. Yeah, Baby! :banana: Oh did I ever mention that my teacher rocks! ;) ;) :lol: :lol: Anyways, again, much better today! :D

[pr]

Much better today. I wasn't nervous at all. It was a much smaller class today but we got alot done. My teacher even tried a few new moves on the unsuspecting Peach! :shock: :D I got through them and surprised myself. Yeah, Baby! :banana: Oh did I ever mention that my teacher rocks! ;) ;) :lol: :lol: Anyways, again, much better today! :D
Glad it went better!!! :D
Did it go better this time because you were not thinking so much do you think? I mean were you more focused on dancing this time instead of thinking so much?

[peachexploration]

Probably a combination of things. I've had a stressful week outside of class so going to class was relief in itself. Dancing with the instructor is quite different than dancing with another student. Particularly when you have a good one. So, yes I still thought about what I was doing. Just not nervous about it. And, on top of that, I had a lot more student/teacher time with him today because the class was small so that eased the tension quite a bit. :)

[hopelessly_addicted]

Probably a combination of things. I've had a stressful week outside of class so going to class was relief in itself. Dancing with the instructor is quite different than dancing with another student. Particularly when you have a good one. So, yes I still thought about what I was doing. Just not nervous about it. And, on top of that, I had a lot more student/teacher time with him today because the class was small so that eased the tension quite a bit. :)

Yay to that! :bouncy: I am so happy for you that you've found such a great teacher :)

You make me wanna go back to classes.. although... at the moment, no class in particular I wanna go :roll: :?

[peachexploration]

Thank you, HA. :) Me too. :)

[Claire_Brummell]

OK - I'm going to come at this from the other side of the conversation (although I can TOTALLY appreciate where you're coming from!)

I dance with my students and I can feel them shaking the second I take their hands!! My approach is to continually re-assure them and give as much help and support as I can.

What you have to remember is that instructors are people and they were once beginners too - who were also territied and trembling when dancing with their instructors - we've all been there and we know exactly how you feel, just relax and enjoy the dance and remember that chances are that if you do this you'll find it easier to dance with them than most other people as they know the lead / follow well and so can respond / understand signals that others might take a bit longer to comprehend...

Just enjoy the dance!! :D

Claire xx

[Miami Rueda dancer]

actually, this happened to me on Monday, whenever I dance with a specific teacher I get this vibe from her that she really does not like me at all.. then when she tried to correct me I ened up messing up alot. :cry:

[peachexploration]

That's not good, MRD. :( Does she teach every class?

[Miami Rueda dancer]

actually.... sometimes.. she's not there at every class and I gota different vibe today for some reason..... she's usually not very patient with her students but today she was smiling and happy like I think she should be.. I maanged to get a friendly smile from her while I was doing ponle sabor because I said.. "alittle better?"

[peachexploration]

Good then. It's definitely not you. She has issues she needs to deal with. I guess she doesn't understand the importance of kindness when it comes to providing a service or instruction. Maybe she has forgotten she was a student once and everyone learns at their own pace. :? I'm glad she's not there all the time. Maybe next time you should call her on it. Say something like, "You know, it's good to see you smile. You have such a nice one. Should smile more often". ;)

[Claire_Brummell]

Peach - there are loads of good teachers out there - if this one doesn't work for you maybe you could try somewhere else?

[peachexploration]

Peach - there are loads of good teachers out there - if this one doesn't work for you maybe you could try somewhere else? :shock: For me? I have a GREAT teacher! :D Why would I want to change? :?

[Claire_Brummell]

Nuts - apologies - my fingers have a life of their own - I mean MRD! Sorry! :roll:

[peachexploration]

Oh ok. :D

[squirrel]

:) Did I mention that I assisted Francisco Vazquez in teaching an advanced class at the Bulgarian Salsa Festival?

As the class progressed I got more and more tired, because the pattern involved many spins and he is a powerful leader... :( I screwed up big time at some moment, but his attitude didn't help... :(

Still, I had the courage to volunteer to help him! :)

I am not really afraid of better dancers... I can be pretty nervous, but also pretty relaxed, depending on the guy...

[Claire_Brummell]

OK - Let me throw this back to you guys as a question - as I said I experience this on a regular basis with my students, I'm always patient and friendly - giving them encouragement and tips where I can without denting their confidence.

From your perspective is there anything the teacher can do / not do in order to make this less of an ordeal? How would you rather they be? I know it will always be a nerve-wracking experience, but I for one would like to know if there's anything I can do to make it easier on the people I dance with...?

:D

[peachexploration]

.....From your perspective is there anything the teacher can do / not do in order to make this less of an ordeal? How would you rather they be? I know it will always be a nerve-wracking experience, but I for one would like to know if there's anything I can do to make it easier on the people I dance with...?

:DClaire, other than be supportive and allow yourself to be approachable to your students, there really isn't much else. The rest is up to the student. I think it's just natural. It's like other areas of life. It may be working with a new boss, a new job, new school, new surroundings, etc. It's just natural to be a little nervous especially if you're the "new kid on the block" so to speak, in any part of life. Eventually, that "newness" will wear off and as you become more comfortable and/or confident, those feelings of apprehensiveness will subside. :D

:) Did I mention that I assisted Francisco Vazquez in teaching an advanced class at the Bulgarian Salsa Festival?...Wow, Squirrel! That's fantastic! :cheers:

... I am not really afraid of better dancers... I can be pretty nervous, but also pretty relaxed, depending on the guy...Right, it just depends. Two examples: I know that if I had a chance to dance with Milton Cobo, I would become a giggling fool. :lol: :lol: I know that if I had a chance to dance with Boriken, I would probably just faint first right there on the spot! :lol: :lol: Not because I'm afraid of them but just because I admire them and don't want to screw up. But it will subside. The more you dance, the more comfortable you will be. And who knows! As time passes, you will be lucky enough to become one of those fearless rebels where nothing phases or makes them nervous whatsoever. :D

[Claire_Brummell]

That was what I thought Peach - just thought I'd throw it open to the floor to see if anyone had any suggestions..!

Thanks for the feedback :D

[Miami Rueda dancer]

the thing is with the instructor, is that she has this thing that if you smile she will smile, I always look concentrated and alittle serious, but when I get to the song I go wild! she's really not a bad person but I just get the feeling that when she's dancing with me she's looking for problems :P

[mistertaz]

Argh! As a guy dancing with a female teacher it can be even more frustrating because you're expected to lead... Im not funny about dancing with any other salsa teachers around here except her...

I guess part of the issue is when you are dancing with them if it is socially or in a class... In a class is fine and I can get through the turn patterns fine, but social dancing I freak out because I feel like she's mentally marking me and I don't feel relaxed enough to be creative and have fun... (To said teacher: Apologies if you read this and get offended! :P)

Oh well... I guess it's just one of those things you have to get over with some time... And yes... I know you've already told me that "hopelessly"... ;)

T.

[hopelessly_addicted]

Oh well... I guess it's just one of those things you have to get over with some time... And yes... I know you've already told me that "hopelessly"... ;)

T.

Welcome to SF! Good to see you posting :D

:lol: I wasn't gonna say "i told ya so"... What happened to the plan to say something outrageous just to start a fight hey? ;)

[squirrel]

Argh! As a guy dancing with a female teacher it can be even more frustrating because you're expected to lead...



Isn't that the very definition of social dancing??? I mean, sure you are supposed to lead... she can't read your mind! :)

Welcome to Salsa Forums!

[Deltarain]

I had to dance with my teacher for the first time last night, and I was a complete bag of nerves!!!

[peachexploration]

I had to dance with my teacher for the first time last night, and I was a complete bag of nerves!!!

How is it this week Deltarain? Any better?

[Deltarain]

Well, I am still struggling with my turns but I think it's mostly because of my trainers. Also I go to Salsa straight after another exercise class and I'm exhausted before I begin but there's no changing either of them so I'm stuck with that. I think i'm doing ok considering I've only had 6 lessons. Thanks fr asking Peach.

[peachexploration]

Mistertaz? You still around? How is it going? :D

OK, my instructor is too funny! He knows that I get nervous when dancing with him and just milks it some times. Such a character. :nope: Anyways, I'm taking privates as well with him now and every class, he announces that I'm his only private student. Argggghhhh!! :headwall: :lol: :lol: Too much pressure!! :lol: :lol: :headwall: I know why he does it though. :) I really need to get beyond it! I'm not as bad as I was at least. :P

[peachexploration]

I miss Eric and G. :(

[Offbeat]

Forget the instructors, I am hesitant and bag of nerves dancing with really good advance dancers. May be it is because I know what I lack and what I need to work on. My scene has plenty of excellent advance followers. Most of them dance with anyone who asks them to. I think it is too selfish of me to mess up their dance just so that I can learn (remember it is a social dance floor and not a class). But that is just me. I rather reach a level where I feel comfortable leading them.

Talking specifically about instructors who are followers out here, they will dance with anyone if asked. Except they will never ask any student to dance, at least from what I seen so far. Also most of them seem to be quite reserve by nature. The male instructors are quite opposite. Most will grab one of their students and dance with them. Not once but a couple of times or more. In both cases I am talking about social dancing.

[PropriedadDeClubDenbow]

I have an opposite situation, tbh. I'm doing my best salsa when dancing with my instructor. I'm good with others, too, but when dancing with him I'm like a really-really-really advanced dancer :D

[chrisk]

Forget the instructors, I am hesitant and bag of nerves dancing with really good advance dancers. May be it is because I know what I lack and what I need to work on. My scene has plenty of excellent advance followers. Most of them dance with anyone who asks them to. I think it is too selfish of me to mess up their dance just so that I can learn (remember it is a social dance floor and not a class). But that is just me. I rather reach a level where I feel comfortable leading them.

Why do you think you are going to "mess up their dance"? If you are going to dance with them and lead well, they will have a fun time with you anyway. Altough they are "advanced dancers" doesn't mean that they don't enjoy dancing with less experience dancers or can have fun when you don't dance tons of moves. They will also enjoy the dance if you are trying to have a good time with them on the dancefloor and a good connection. And it will be a great learning experience because they i.e. might react completely different to some of your leading. So don't think so negatively about "messing up their dance". You aren't going to mess it up if you are going to try to have a great time with them. So gather you courage, ask one of them and you'll see for yourself.

And I know from personal experience that you can be afraid to ask an advanced follower or anybody who you think might be above your level. But nowadays I don't care much about the level and just ask instead. I've noticed that most advanced dancer will say "yes" and that you can still have a lot of fun with them and not "mess up their dance". So I'm now asking anybody who I want to ask for a dancer and don't consider their level/experience as criteria.